India's leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has officially confirmed the reason behind his recent absence from the cricket field. On December 18, the veteran bowler revealed that he has been battling a double diagnosis of dengue and chikungunya. Chahal has been sidelined from competitive action since November 30, when he made his last appearance for Haryana in the domestic circuit.
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Dengue, Chikungunya strike Yuzvendra Chahal
The timing of his illness was particularly unfortunate, as it forced him to miss the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final in Pune. While his Haryana teammates took on Jharkhand in the high-stakes title clash, the out-of-favour international cricketer was restricted to the sidelines. Despite his health struggles, Chahal took to social media to share a health update with his followers and offer his support to his team. He wished the Haryana squad the best for the marquee final while indicating that his focus remains on a full recovery before making a return to the professional circuit.
“Wishing my team Haryana all the very best for the SMAT finals. I wished to be a part of the team, but unfortunately I am down with dengue and chikungunya, which have really taken a toll on my health. The doctors have asked me to focus only on rest and recovery,” Chahal's X post read.
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Yuzvendra Chahal retained by PBKS
Chahal’s journey back to the national side has been a long one, he has not featured for the senior Indian team since August 2023 and remained on the sidelines during the T20 World Cup last year. Despite being out of favor with national selectors recently, he has remained active and successful overseas. During a recent stint in England with Northamptonshire, he impressed in both formats, claiming six wickets in the One-Day Cup with an elite economy rate and picking up 12 wickets, including a standout five-wicket haul, in the County Championship.
On the domestic franchise front, Chahal’s value remains high. He has been retained by the Punjab Kings for the upcoming IPL season following their impressive run to the final in 2025.